An Exploration of Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (Cpted) Principles for Enhancing Safety and Security in the Design of Adamawa State University Students’ Hostel, Mubi

Abstract

People across the world face growing insecurity, violent conflict spreading and intensifying and the natural systems on which human life depends on, is in jeopardy. Also, today the security condition of student hostel has become one of the major challenges facing Nigerian institutions, with continual media coverage of the state of insecurity of the students’ hostel, level of theft, burglary, abductions, and kidnappings. This research set out to proffer solutions to the rising insecurity challenges in the students’ hostel. This was achieved through the development of a framework from CPTED, on architectural strategies used to deter crime from thriving in the students’ hostel environment. A user perception survey was carried out using questionnaire issued to occupants of the various hostels. A case study was also carried out using visual survey and checklist to identify safety and security inadequacies in the buildings. Findings from questionnaire and case study revealed that the perceived level of safety was higher in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, then University of Maiduguri and least perception of students’ safety and security seen in Adamawa State University, Mubi. Hence, confirming the need to improve the impediment of variables like perimeter control, building configuration, external wall design, window design and site planning and layout, in respect to CPTED principles in the design of student hostel buildings in Nigeria.

An assessment of crime prevention through environmental design in student housing: a weight-of-evidence approach

“…Studies suggest a positive effect of CPTED on students' social interaction within their housing (Kim, 2021). There is also a positive relationship between CPTED and students' outdoor environment (Kim, 2015;Moral and Gafar, 2021). Again, there is recent support for funds for adopting CPTED in schools as it grants students a high perception of safety and comfort (Lamoreaux and Sulkowski, 2021).Globally, students' housing is vital for any higher educational institution.…”